Even with 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports settling their dispute with NASCAR, Denny Hamlin remains in attack mode, rattling cages. Last year, the Joe Gibbs Racing veteran went after the media, citing that some sources were spreading “disinformation” about the charter dispute.

Now, the three-time Daytona 500 winner is reopening old wounds, turning his attention to Channel 90, even after a court-mediated settlement designed to unify the sport.

‘Animosity Ends With Accountability’ – Denny Hamlin Goes Ballistic

Hamlin’s frustration with the media didn’t start yesterday. In November 2024, the JGR driver publicly challenged veteran broadcaster Larry McReynolds, accusing him of muddying the water with false information in the early coverage of the 23XI and FRM lawsuit against NASCAR. More than a year later (13 months), the legal battle has finally reached its conclusion.

After nine days inside a courtroom, the sanctioning body and the two Cup Series teams settled the dispute this past Thursday, formally closing the case. But while the lawsuit may be over on paper, Hamlin made it clear the reckoning isn’t. When McReynolds, the SiriusXM NASCAR Radio, posted a promotional teaser for Tuesday’s show, Hamlin stepped into the conversation himself.

“Good morning,” the 45-year-old began cordially, then came the wake-up call. “Now that the case is settled and the evidence is out, will you or anyone on channel 90 be issuing an apology for what you all said about 23XI/FRM when the lawsuit was filed?”

The roots of the dispute trace back to October 2024, when 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports refused to sign NASCAR’s proposed Charter Agreement, labeling it a nonstarter. Their antitrust lawsuit, which also named NASCAR CEO Jim France, accused the sanctioning body of maintaining monopolistic control over the sport.

At the time, McReynolds openly criticized the teams, arguing they were attempting to disrupt the way Charlotte has done business for 76 and a half years.

Now, with Hamlin rattling the cage once again, McReynolds found support from a familiar voice. Fellow SiriusXM NASCAR Radio co-host and PRN podcaster Brad Gillie stepped in to defend him.

Responding to Hamlin’s comments, Gillie wrote, “I realize you’re responding to Larry, but shouldn’t we let the animosity end? I would love to see us all positively move the sport forward with unity and grace.”

Hamlin, however, wasn’t interested in smoothing things over. The 23XI co-owner fired back with a brief yet blunt response: “Animosity ends with accountability.”

The remark struck a nerve, quickly lighting up social media as fans flooded the comments and pushed the post past thousands of likes, an unmistakable show of support for Hamlin’s hard-line stance.

Ty Dillon, the 33-year-old youngest grandson of racing icon Richard Childress, will return to Kaulig Racing in 2025 in the No. 10 Chevrolet.

Outside of a surprising run in the maiden mid-season tournament, where he made a run all the way to the final, it wasn’t a 2025 to remember for Dillon. The Kaulig driver finished 33rd overall in the NASCAR Cup Series standings. 

Speaking on his ‘Dale Jr. Download’ podcast, Dale Earnhardt Jr. seemed pessimistic about Dillon’s chances in 2026, partially due wit the changes at Kauli, who are moving away from their deal with Dodge cars. Kaulig also paused its Xfinity team (now the O’Reilly Auto Parts circuit). 

“Man, is it going to be a frustrating year? I would predict that next year for him will be one of his toughest personally, physically, mentally,” Earnhardt warned. 

“He’s racing for Kaulig, and they’ve got little to no support in terms of engineering and resources…Chevrolet is not going to be helping them. They’re not driving Dodges in Cup,” the former driver continued. “It’ll be a hot mess.”

Dillon raced for Richard Childress Racing in the Cup Series in 2015 and in the Xfinity Series from 2012 to 2019. He switched to Germain Racing in 2017, Gaunt Borther Racing in 2021, Petty GMS Motorsports in 2022, SPire Motorsports in 2023, before joining Kaulig in 2024. 

“Ty Dillon is returning to Kaulig. I’m surprised by that because I thought when Kaulig got shut out of the Chevrolet deal,” Earnhardt continued.

DON’T MISS: 

“[Because] I thought Ty Dillon was at Kaulig because of RCR and that connection….So RCR is now going to be working with Rick Ware. So, Kaulig is shoved off the Chevrolet ship.”

Dillon finished a career-best 24th in the Cup Series in both the 2017 and 2019 seasons. He has zero wins in 281 career starts, including eight top 10s. 

The younger brother of fellow driver Austin Dillon expressed excitement about his deal with Kaulig. “I am incredibly grateful for another opportunity to run full-time in the Cup Series and honored to do it with the men and women at Kaulig Racing, which means a lot to me personally,” Dillon said in a press release

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In 2026, the Caulder Construction Dwarf Cars are scaled down, open wheeled coupes resembling the earliest stock car racers of the 1940s, ‘50s and ‘60s with a 1,000cc motorcycle engine under the hood. One of White Mountain’s most unique divisions, they’ll light up the highbanks in eight scheduled appearances at White Mountain Motorsports Park this season.

“We’re glad the Dwarf Cars will get some more recognition with the help of Caulder Construction,” said Media Director Cale King. “They’re a great group of guys that put on some stellar racing and we, like the Caulders, hope this helps boost them up a bit for next summer.”

Kyle Novak, longtime race director for the NTT INDYCAR SERIES and INDY NXT by Firestone, has been re-elected to serve on the FIA International Court of Appeal and the FIA International Tribunal.

Novak was initially elected in 2022 and has completed his first four-year term. His re-election marks the beginning of a second four-year term following a Dec. 12 vote at the FIA General Assembly in Uzbekistan.

He was appointed by ACCUS (Automobile Competition Committee for the United States). That group was founded in 1957 and serves as the official liaison of the U.S. sanctioning bodies to the FIA.

The appointment places Novak among just 36 judges worldwide, a group composed of motorsports and sports attorneys from across the globe. Typically, each country is limited to no more than two representatives. Novak is one of two appointed from the United States, alongside Gary Crotty, legal counsel for NASCAR.

“My participation on this court provides me the opportunity to interact with some of the finest motorsports legal minds in the world,” Novak said. “Our days are filled with discussions on some of the most intricate topics in motorsports governance.

“These cases provide the backbone for future motorsports governance, both internationally and here in the United States. While FIA statutes are not binding on our championship, INDYCAR must constantly adapt to meet the challenges of an ever-evolving global motorsports landscape.”

The FIA International Tribunal serves as the first-instance judicial body and hears disciplinary matters brought before it by the FIA president. The FIA International Court of Appeal functions as the final appellate authority, reviewing decisions issued by stewards and other FIA sporting and disciplinary bodies, including the International Tribunal.

Serving on the FIA’s International Court of Appeal and International Tribunal is widely regarded as the motorsports equivalent of the United States Supreme Court – the final court of last resort once all internal FIA appeals have been exhausted.

An attorney who passed the bar in Michigan, Novak (photo, above) is the sole representative from the NTT INDYCAR SERIES among the FIA judges.

Novak said it’s an honor to represent the series when hearing cases or attending annual conferences, noting everyone involved is a racing fan. As an example, he recalled having breakfast last fall in Paris with a Spanish colleague who knew everything about the NTT INDYCAR SERIES through following four-time series champion Alex Palou, who also hails from Spain.

“I was initially surprised by the high level of interest in INDYCAR from my colleagues,” Novak said. “That interest demonstrates the global reach INDYCAR has. I hope my involvement on this court continues to raise awareness and further strengthen INDYCAR’s status as a premier motorsports sanctioning body.”

Over the past several years, Novak has heard cases involving competitors and member clubs across multiple disciplines, including sports car racing and karting, as well as a case between a member club and the FIA itself. All proceedings are conducted in person, either in Geneva or at FIA headquarters in Paris.

Novak said the experience has produced a direct impact on his officiating duties in the NTT INDYCAR SERIES.

“Even in cases where I’m not sitting as a judge, we receive all the correspondence, which allows us to observe how regulations are written and how much litigation can arise from their interpretation and application,” Novak said. “Whenever we hear a case, I’m always thinking about how a similar situation might play out at INDYCAR.

“Some of these matters can be surprisingly small. One karting case involved a competitor making an obscene gesture, which resulted in a full-weekend disqualification. Seeing how other sanctioning bodies handle situations like that immediately makes you ask: ‘What would we do here? If it were appealed, how would it turn out? Are our regulations strong enough to handle it, and if not, how can we improve them?’

“Everything I learn in this role can be applied directly back to INDYCAR.”

Chandler Smith is returning to the NASCAR Truck Series in 2026. Smith will return to Front Row Motorsports to drive the No. 38 truck during the 2026 Truck Series season, the team announced. The Front Row Motorsports driver will keep Jon Leonard as his crew chief for the second straight year.

In 2025, Smith earned two wins, five top-5 finishes, 16 top-10 finishes, an 11.8 average finishing position, and an eighth-place finish in the point standings. The driver of the No. 38 truck was eliminated in the Round of 10 finale at New Hampshire Motor Speedway after significant issues in the first two events.

Front Row Motorsports will bring back the same lineup with Smith and Layne Riggs driving their entries. The No. 38 team was a last-second announcement for 2025, so expectations are higher going into 2026. Smith hopes to be on the same level as Riggs with eyes on a Truck Series championship.